Game apparatus.



H. K, KIRGH & 0. E. cLA'uss. GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED JAILY, 1911.

1,030,664. Patented M11 25, 1912.

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H. K. KIRGH -& 0. B. CLAUss;

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1911.

1,030,664, Patented June 25,1912.

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UNITED STATFb PATENT UFFTCE.

HERMANN K. KIRCH AND OTTO E. GLAUSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HERMANN K. Kinoi-r and Orro E. CLAUSS, subject of the Emperor of Germany and citizen of the United States of America, respectively, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to game apparatus and particularly to an apparatus for playing a game simulating baseball, and has for an object to provide means whereby numerous diliicult plays can be made through the provision of relatively movable elements representing the pitcher and batter respec tively.

In the drawings, forming a portion of this specification and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views :Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved game apparatus. Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line l4t of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the supporting base.

Our improved game apparatus comprises a horizontally disposed board 1 which is marked or otherwise suitably formed in any well known manner on its upper surface to form a base-ball diamond, the in-field of the diamond being defined by the part 2 and the out-field by the part 3. The in-field is marked to form the home plate 4, and the first, second and third bases 5, 6 and 7 respectively, each of which having formed therein an opening 8 to receive the player. Immediately in front of the home plate 4, the board 1 is formed with an elongated slot 9 into which the upwardly extending portion 10 of the batting element 11 extends. The board 1 is wholly surround-ed by the rectangular wall 12 and at the point immediately at the rear of the home plate a the wall is formed to provlde a substantially V- shaped slot 13 through which the shank 1 1 of the batting element extends and in which the said element is movable both horizontally with respect to the board and longitudinally between the pitchers box and home plate respectively. The batting element is formed preferably from a single length of suitable wire, and as shown, the upwardly extending portion thereof is formed to provide a substantially elongated head 15 which extends across the slot 9. The pitchers box 16 is designated in any well known manner and is properly positioned with respect to the home plate in accordance with the proportion of the board, which latter may be made in any suitable size. In the pitchers box, and immediately in line with the slot 9, the board is formed to provide an elongated slot 17 into which the upstanding portion 18 of the pitching element extends, the said ele ment being contained at one end into an actuating eye or head 19 and at its opposite end into a manipulating shank or stem 20. The stem 20 is slidable through the surrounding wall of the board at the corner which is immediately opposite the home plate.

At points adjacent to the bases 5, 6 and 7 respectively, and 011 the in-field, the board is constructed to provide pockets 21 each consisting of a suitable piece of netting 22 which is disposed below the pocket opening 23 and suitably secured in any well known manner to the underside of the board. In the out-field, the board is formed with an elongated pocket 2st which represents the player occupying the center of the field. To the right and left respectively of the centerfield pocket are the left and right field pockets 25 and 26 respectively.

To the right of the diamond, the surrounding wall of the board is formed to provide the home-run territory 27 which is defined by the lines 28. At the left, the surrounding wall of the board is formed to provide a similar home-run territory 29 which is defined by the lines 30. The outermost lines of the just named home-run territories define a two-base hit territory 31. The portions 32 of the surrounding wall of the board are disposed-in parallel spaced relation with the foul lines The board is formed on its underside to provide a plurality of recesses in which the stems 35 on the arms 36 of the frame 37 extends. Four of the arms 36 are preferably employed and they are connected together in any suitable well known manner and all of such arms are secured to the center of a base 38 by means of a bolt 39. The base 38 is provided on its underside with suitable elastic feet 40 to prevent marring of the furniture 011 which the apparatus is supported and used. The particular form of support as thus described does not form a part of this invention.

Having described in detail the construction of our improved apparatus the rules of playing the same are as follows: The game can be played by two or more players or d1- vided into two separate sides if more than two players are playing. Each player 18 supposed to take his turn at playing in regular order changing with each batterup. The rules governing the present game apparatus are very similar to the rules governing the regular game of base-ball. The game consists of nine innings, the opposing players changing as batter and fielder, three outs being necessary for each change. During the play the batters score balls, hits and runs, in opposition to those the fielder scores strikeouts and put-outs. The batter-up places a ball on home plate to represent the batter and the fielder places another ball in the depression or seat e5 in the board in advance of the slot 17. The player representing the pitcher manipulates the pitching element so as to force the same against the last mentioned ball to drive it to the batter. The player representing the batter manipulates the batting element, the object being for the batter to strike at the ball after it has been driven by the pitcher. A fair hitis made if the ball is hit and stops any place inside of the foul lines and is called a one base hit unless it should stop on the three base hit territory 46 at the right and left hand corners of the field. If the batter should hit the ball so as to cause it to roll fair it will played. If the batter strikes at the ball and misses the same it is called a strike. If the batter should not strike at the ball and should the ball hit the bat it is also called a strike. On three strikes the batter is out. A pitched ball that is not struck at and which does not hit the bat is called a ball. On four of such plays the batter takes his base on balls. If the ball when struck by the batter stops on any base or should it hit the pitcher the batter is out. If a base runner isrhit by a batted ball'it is counted one out. If the batter handles the ball before it stops moving the batter is out. If the batter fails to place his ball on base after making a fair hit or after receiving a base on balls is called out, and in this case the pitcher must pitch or if the batted ball hits a base runner and;

then rolls into the pocket it is called a double play which means two out on the retiring side. If a batted ball hits the pitcher and the base runner and then rolls into pocket, or if ball hits two base runners and rolls into pocket it is called a triple play and the retiring side is out. The runners advance the same as in the regular game of baseball, for instance,if there is a runner on the first base and batter makes a first base hit, the runner advances to second base and the batter to first base, if there should be a runner on third base and one on first base the batter hits a single, the runner on third base advances and scores a run, and the runner on first base moves to second base. A foul ball is called when the ball rolls outside of the foul line. The runner, should he desire, may endeavor to steal his bases but he must announce when he intends to steal. Immediately at this time the batter must make a bases and on a two base hit he gets three bases, and if the batter fails to make a hit the runner is called out. For a double steal the batter must make a two base hit and if he fails both runners are out.

The fielder may declare an error on batter if the ball is not standing on home plate. The batter declares an error on the fielder if he handles the ball before it stops running. In this case the batter advances to first base. A balk is declared if the pitcher makes a motion to pitch the ball and does not deliver same to the batter. 'In this case the batter takes first base. A wild pitch is counted if the ball is pitched and batter does not strike at the same and the ball rolls over the batters end of the board. In this case it is called a ball and all base runners advance one base. I From the foregoing description it will be readily understood by those acquainted with the well known game of baseball, that in the apparatus a most interesting, amusing, scientific and instructive game can be played. Through the horizontal adjustment of the batting element representing the so-called batter, the player when skilled from practice can successfully place the ball at safe points on the field.

We claim In a game apparatus, a board of a rectangular formation representing a base ball field, a home plate, bases, and pockets formed on the board corresponding to positions of the fielders, an elongated slot formed on the board and disposed immediately in advance of the said home plate, a substantially V-shaped slot formed in the board and lat-ing portion and adapted to be moved substantially as and for the purpose set horizontally with respect to the board, the forth.

opposite end of the said element being eX- In testimony whereof we afiix our signa tended up through the said 1elongated slot tures in presence of two witnesses. immediately in advance of tie home plate and formed to provide an elongated head fi g fbgg portion transversely disposed with respect to the slot and adapted for longitudinal movement therein and a pitching element arranged opposite the said batting element- Witnesses:

JAMES LONGSTAFF, H. CHRIST L. NISSEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

